Speaking after a visit to the hospital last week, where healthcare staff have been attacked recently, the Minister said: "There has been an urgent review by the Northern Trust of security at Causeway Hospital in light of the incidents of recent weeks.

"A number of measures to improve security at the Accident and Emergency Department have been recommended. As a first step, security guards are now deployed in the A&E Department at night and I am sure their presence will be reassuring for staff, patients and visitors.

" I welcome the initial action taken to improve security, and I have asked the Trust to advise me of the further steps proposed to protect, at all times, the personal safety of those admitted, visiting or working in the hospital."

He added: "Any form of attack on healthcare staff is inexcusable and totally unacceptable. It is appalling to think that those who dedicate themselves to saving lives and to public service should be subject to verbal or physical abuse.

"Last year I launched a zero tolerance campaign on attacks on healthcare workers, and Health and Social Care Trusts are required to have a zero tolerance policy in operation.

"Perpetrators of violence against staff must face the full rigour of the law. My department is currently giving active consideration to the creation of new legislation for Northern Ireland that will provide health and social care staff with additional protection from attack."
The Minister also visited and praised the specialist dental unit at Causeway Hospital.

This unit, staffed by members of the Community Dental Service (CDS), provides dental care for special needs patients such as those with a learning disability, physical disability or a compromising medical condition.

Mr. McGimpsey said: "This specialist unit is a shining example of how a multidisciplinary team working together can deliver a first class service to patients.

"I am pleased to see that the trust has taken on one of the main recommendations from the Review of the Community Dental Service report and prioritised its dental services on providing care for special needs patients."

Over the last two years the service at the Causeway Hospital has played an important role in addressing waiting time issues which were being experienced by learning disabled patients living in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB) area.

The dental service at Causeway hospital has assessed 81 patients from the EHSSB and provided care for 78 of these patients, thus significantly reducing waiting times in the Eastern Board area.

The Minister added: "I particularly want to thank the staff here at Causeway for the important role they played in helping to reduce waiting times for learning disabled patients from the Eastern Health and Social Services Board over the past two years."

In June 2007, the Minister launched a Zero Tolerance publicity campaign on attacks against staff. This campaign was directed at both staff and the general public and aimed to raise awareness and reinforce the message that violence against health and social care staff will not be tolerated.